KEY POINTS:
Stephen McKee basked in Group One glory at Trentham yesterday - even if the betting public were shocked by 42-1 shot Boundless winning the $400,000 New Zealand Oaks.
The Ardmore-based horseman has been a prominent fixture in the trainers premiership this season and his conditioning skills were underlined when Boundless scored a short neck victory over Referred.
Boundless came into the 3-year-old fillies feature with sound form, including a useful last-start fourth placing over 2100m at Ellerslie.
But punters were only interested in one runner in the NZ Oaks - Kaatoon who battled into seventh place - as two outsiders fought out the finish, spearheading a massive $37,908.70 trifecta result.
The daughter of Van Nistelrooy sat outside the leader throughout an easy pace and outsprinted then outstayed the opposition to record a determined victory. McKee was not surprised by the victory although he did admit Kaatoon would prove difficult to beat.
"My filly was three wide in her last start on a wet track at Ellerslie and stuck on well to finish fourth so I knew she'd see out the 2400m of the Oaks," said McKee.
"I gave her an each-way chance but when they're racing for $400,000 you need a few things to go your way.
"Her form this season has been solid and I decided to pull the blinkers off her for the Oaks and we've got the desired Group One win."
Kaatoon was given a dream sit in the middle of the field but failed to lengthen stride when asked to challenge in the home stretch.
OPIE BOSSON was extremely confident in the sprint finishing ability of Kathy Keen as his rivals found out at the finishing line in the $120,000 New Zealand St Leger.
Bosson settled the 4-year-old back off the speed in the 2500m feature and timed his challenge to perfection as they sprinted powerfully in the home stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Striptease. A further length away was Cross Roads.
The champion jockey has ridden Katy Keen in her last three starts, all impressive wins for Tauranga-based trainer Stuart Manning.
ALL IN BRAWL was a dominant winner of the $20,000 2-year-old event despite the official winning margin only being a long neck.
The Bertolini-sired gelding was punched straight to the front by jockey Hayden Tinsley and was pressured throughout by Tavistock. They waged battle over the home stretch with the leader pulling out something extra in the closing 50m.
Palmerston North-based Kevin Gray will now prepare the gelding for an assault on the $400,000 Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni on March 29.
